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End of Life Care

End of Life Care

 

What end of life care involves

End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life.

End of life care should help you to live as well as possible until you die and to die with dignity. The people providing your care should ask you about your wishes and preferences and take these into account as they work with you to plan your care.

They should also support your family, carers or other people who are important to you.

You have the right to express your wishes about where you would like to receive care and where you want to die. You can receive end of life care at home, in a care homehospice or be cared for in hospital, depending on your needs and preference.

People who are approaching the end of their life are entitled to high-quality care, wherever they're being cared for. Find out what to expect from end of life care.

This is taken from What end of life care involves - NHS where you will also information on:

  • Who provides end of life care?
  • What is palliative care?
  • Who provides palliative care?
  • When does end of life care begin?
  • Planning ahead

Finding help

St Leonard's Hospice

St Leonard’s Hospice is a leading provider of palliative and end-of-life care, dedicated to supporting individuals with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and advanced heart failure. Their vision is that everyone living with a life-limiting illness has access to the best possible care and support and will be supported to die well.

Our services include:

  • In-Patient Unit providing specialist round the clock care, Hospice@Home supporting those patients who want to spend the last few weeks of their lives at home,
  • Carer Support Service providing a much-needed break for people caring for a family member or friend,
  • Wellbeing Drop-Ins for anyone living with a life-limiting illness and those they care about,
  • Bereavement Support for people living with grief.

The team comprises highly experienced doctors and nurses, and specialists in complementary therapy, physiotherapy, social work, occupational therapy and spiritual care, all working together to provide holistic support.

NHS York Teaching Hospital

NHS York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust offers information, advice and guidance on end of life care. For further information visit the NHS York website.

End of life care - Together for Short Lives

https://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/get-support/information-about-your-childs-care/end-life-care/

End of life | Macmillan Cancer Support

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/if-you-have-an-advanced-cancer/end-of-life

Dementia and end of life planning - NHS

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/living-with-dementia/palliative-care/

From diagnosis to end of life: The lived experiences of dementia care and support | Alzheimer's Society

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/from-diagnosis-to-end-of-life

End of life care for renal patients

https://www.kidney.org.uk/end-of-life-care-for-renal-patients

British Heart Foundation

End of life and heart failure - planning ahead - BHF

 

General advice and information is also available from the following organisations:

 

Marie Curie | The UK’s leading end of life charity

https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/

Marie Curie Support Line | Helpline

Planning for end of life | Age UK

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/relationships-family/end-of-life-issues/

 Supporting someone who is dying - end of life care | Sue Ryder

https://www.sueryder.org/end-of-life-care/supporting-someone-near-the-end-of-their-life/helping-someone-close-to-death/

Compassion in Dying

https://compassionindying.org.uk/

More end of life services can be found in the Live Well York Service Directory - end of life.

For services that support families with a terminally ill child please go to the Raise York Service Directory  (then click on "view or manage your shortlist" at the top of the screen).

Last updated: 24/01/2025